MIKEL NOT A NEUTRAL OVER PAIN OF FAILURE

Benfica v Arsenal Kick-off 8pm

BY MIKE WALTERS

MIKEL ARTETA will turn Arsenal’s unique tie in two neutral venues into the hunger games to prevent another Greek tragedy in Europe.

A year ago, 10 weeks into his reign at the Emirates, Arteta suffered last-gasp Europa League heartbreak against Olympiakos.

And after their ‘away’ leg against Portugal’s Benfica in Rome tonight (above, Bukayo Saka, right, and Gabriel Martinelli training yesterday for the tie) the Gunners travel to Athens next week for the return in the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium – home of Olympiakos. Arteta is still haunted by that European exit, when Pierre-emerick Aubameyang – under investigation for a tattoo which may have broken lockdown rules – missed a yawning chance to rescue them with the last kick.

The Arsenal boss (below) said: “It was very cruel, the way we got knocked out of the competition. The result was in our hands, we had scored the goal we needed and then conceded in the last minute of extra-time.

“Even then, we still had a massive chance with Auba to go through. The big lesson was you have to play every minute of the competition with high focus and every detail matters.

“You have to be able to control your emotions and take the game into your territory when the tie is in your hands.

“It was a really tough experience because we deserved to go through but I think that created more hunger this season to put more energy and more commitment into this competition.”

Skipper Aubameyang has travelled to Italy but his return to form with a hat-trick against Leeds on Sunday was overshadowed after he appeared in a video clip, posted by tattoo artist Alejandro Bernal last week, which showed him acquiring new artwork on his hand.

It is not clear when the tattoo was done and Arteta was cagey when asked if Aubameyang (below) had broken lockdown regulations.

He said: “We try to advise every player and make sure they know all the rules – and stick to those rules all the time. If someone doesn’t, obviously we have to act.” BENFICA: Vlachodimos, Goncalves, Otamendi, Vertonghen, Grimaldo, Silva, Taarabt, Weigl, Pizzi, Nunez, Seferovic

ARSENAL: Leno, Bellerin, Holding, Luiz, Soares, Xhaka, Elneny, Willian, Odegaard, Pepe, Lacazette